Guide means for sewing machines



Feb. 12, 1957 IR. A. NIELSE N' 2,781,008

GUIDE MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Aug. 31, 1954 Ruffi- A. Aha/Jen INVENTOR.

United States Patent GIHDE MEANS FOR SEWING MACHINES Ruth A. Nielsen, Freeport, Tex. Application August 31, 1954, Serial No. 453,199

3 Claims. (Cl. 112-451) is not attached to the Working surface of the machine,

and which permits the working surface to remain smooth and unobstructed at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide for the purpose described which is combined with a pressure foot, and which is disengaged from the working sur-' face of the machine by raising the pressure foot.

Another object of the invention is to provide a guide device for sewing machines wherein the advantage of a pressure foot, pressure foot guide, seam guide and tucker are all combined in a single structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sewing guide for sewing machines which forms a permanent part to the pressure foot of the machine and which may remain in position for use at all times.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a guide device for sewing machines which is not attached to the working surface of the machine and by the use of which the working surface may be maintained in an unobstructed condition at all times.

A further object of the invention is to provide a guide device for sewing machines wherein the pressure foot gauge is constructed to automatically adapt itself to varying thicknesses of fabric. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide guide means combined with a pressure foot, which if desired may become a permanent part of the machine, or alternatively, may be removed entirely from the machine by removing the pressure foot to which the guide means is attached and substituting therefor a pressure foot which does not have attached thereto the guide means of the invention.

Sewing machines ordinarily include means comprising a pressure foot for use in holding the work down while it is being operated upon by the stitching mechanism.

The pressure foot is bifurcated at one end to form a pair of forwardly extending toes or fingers, which are spaced apart from each other and which straddle the needle during its reciprocating movement whereby, upon the upward movement of the needle the pressure foot engages the work to hold it down so that the needle may be quickly 7 disengaged from the work. The pressure foot is at- The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is aperspective view of a pressure foot havin attached thereto guide means embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a front elevational .view .of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Referring to .the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the work being operated upon which is supported upon the working surface of the machine not-shown. The numeral 2 indicates a line of stitching which is being performed upon the work 1, and the numeral 3 designates an edge of the work 1 which may be aligned with the guide means of the invention, as hereinafter described, whereby the stitching 2 may be spaced apart from the-edge 3, as desired, as the work 1 is operated upon by the machine.

In accordance with the usual practice, a pressure foot 4 is attached, as hereinafter described, .to the lower end of a vertically disposed rod 5, which may be moved longitudinally whereby the pressure foot 4 may be moved in and out of engagement with the work 1. One end of the pressure foot 4 is bifurcated to form a pair of forwardly extending toes or fingers 6 which are spaced apart from each other and which straddle the needle of the machine (not shown) during its reciprocating movement. A pair of upstanding lugs 7, which are closely spaced with respect to each other, are formed on the uppersurface of the pressure foot 4 for engagement by one end of an angular connecting member 8, which is disposed between the upstanding lugs 7 and pivotally connected thereto by a pin 9. The opposite end 10 of the connecting member 8 is channel shaped for engagement by thelower end of the rod 5, and is slotted at 11 for engagement by suitable fastening means (not shown) whereby the connecting member 8 is attached to the rod 5.

An elongated fiat bar '12 is disposed horizontally at right angles to the pressure foot 4, and is rigidly connected at one end to one of the upstanding lugs 7 so that the bar 12, as Well as the pressure foot 4, may be tilted somewhat about the pin 9, the relative movement of the bar 12 and the pressure foot 4 with respect to the connecting member .8 being limited by abutment of the opposed surfaces of the pressure foot :4 and the connecting member 8, in the usual manner.

A guide member as hereinafter described is adjustably mounted on the bar 12 whereby it may be advanced and retracted with respect to the pressure foot 4. The guide member includes a channel shaped portion 13 which slidably engages the bar 12, and which has a longitudinal slot 14 formed therein for engagement by a thumb screw 15, which is connected to the bar 12, whereby the guide member may be fastened in any desired position with respect to the bar 12. The guide member also includes a resilient, spring-like portion 16 comprising an elongated, flat strip of relatively thin material which is a continuation of the channel shaped portion 13 and is disposed generally parallel to the channel shaped portion 13 and adjacent one end thereof, to the adjacent side of the channel-shaped portion 13 adjacent the outer end thereof. The spring-like portion 16 is folded upon itself adjacent its connected end, and the free end thereof extends inwardly toward the pressure foot 4 and is inclined downwardly so that it yieldably engages the working surface of the machine when the pressure foot 4 is in its lowermost position.

The free end of the spring-like portion 16 is pointed at 17 to form a guide for the work 1 as it is operated upon by the machine. An upstanding guide plate 18 is disposed transversely with respect to the spring-like portion 16 and is rigidly connected thereto adjacent its pointed end 17. The guide plate 18 is curved from back edge to center and is straight from the center to the front edge,

the center thereof being positioned more closely adjacent to the pointed end 17 than the sides and is inclined upwardly and inwardly toward the pointed end 17.

-- 'In operation, the Work 1 may be arranged upon the working surface of the machine so that fl1e edge 3 of the work 1 covers the pointed end 17 and lies closely adjacent the guide plate 18, as illustrated in Figure 1. The curved surface of the guide plate 18 permits the work 1 to be moved in a curved path as well as in a straight line. The inclined position of the guide plate 18 prevents the edge 3 of the work 1 from climbing the guide plate 18, thus surface of the machine at all times.

When stitching other than seams and a pressure foot guide'is desired, the Work 1 may be arranged upon the working surface of the machine so that the pointer 17 is in view and serves as a guide.

'insuring that the work 1 will lie flat upon the working The invention may be modified in various ways with- 7 out departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

, I claim:

1. Guide means for sewing machines comprising, in

tally at right angles to the pressure foot and rigidly connected thereto at one end, and a guide member adjustably mounted on the bar whereby it may be advanced and retracted with respect to the pressure foot, the guide member including a portion which slidably engages the bar and a resilient, elongated, spring-like portion disposed generally parallel to the bar engaging portion and adjacent one side thereof, one side of the spring-like portion being connected, adjacent one end thereof, to the adjacent side nected thereto at one end, and a guide member adjustably 45 mounted on the bar whereby it may be advanced and retracted with respect to the pressure foot, the guide member including a portion which slidably engages the bar I combination with a pressure foot, a bar disposed horizonr and a resilient, elongated spring-like portion disposed generally parallel to the bar engaging portion and adjacent one side thereof, one'side of the spring-like portion being connected, adjacent one end thereof, to the adjacent side of the bar engaging portion adjacent the outer end thereof, the spring-like portion being folded upon itself adjacent its connected end and the free end thereof extending inwardly toward the pressure foot and being inclined downwardly, the free end of the spring-like portion being pointed and an upstanding forwardly inclined guide plate being disposed transversely with respect to the spring-like portion and being rigidly connected thereto adjacent its pointed end.

3. Guide means for sewing machines comprising, in combination with a pressure foot, an elongated fiat bar disposed horizontally at right angles to the pressure foot and rigidly connected thereto at one end, and a guide member adjustably mounted on the bar whereby it may be advanced and retracted with respect to the pressure foot, the guide member including a channel shaped portion slidably engaging the bar, and having a longitudinal slot formed therein for engagement by a' thumb screw connected to the bar, and'a resilient, spring-like portion comprising an elongated, flat strip of relatively thin material'disposed generally parallel to the channel shaped portion and adjacent one siderthereof, one side of the spring-like portion being connected, adjacent one end thereof, to the adjacent side of the channel shaped portion adjacent the outer end thereof, the spring-like portion being folded upon itself adjacent its connected end and the free end thereof extending inwardly toward the pressure foot and being inclined downwardly, the free end of the spring-like portion being pointed and an upstanding guide plate being disposed transversely with respect to the spring-like portion and being rigidly connected thereto adjacent its pointed end, the guide plate being curved from back edge to center and straight from center to front edge, the center thereof being positioned more closely adjacent the pointed end of the spring-like portion than the sides, the guide plate being inclined upwardly and inwardly toward the pointed end of the spring-like portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,152 Hunter Sept. 4, 1888 723,121 3 Ammerman Mar. 17, 1903 1,023,335 Rontke .V. Apr. 16, 1912 

